Renowned as a vibrant city, Bangkok is Thailand’s capital, home to 15.8 million metropolitan residents (9.2 million in the city). It is a center of business and investment, with $219 billion GPP and $13,755 GPP per capita in 2017; and over a million foreign workers. 

 

Bangkok’s multicultural identity runs deep in her veins. Founded in 1782, the city inherited its rich culture, vigorous foreign trade, and international connections from the previous kingdom of Ayutthaya.  Diversity and openness are the cultural assets propelling Bangkok’s design development and have made the city a favored destination for visitors, who numbered over 20 million in 2018.

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Design drives Bangkok in many aspects, including area conservation and improvement, community development, and the incorporation of innovation, inclusion, and sustainability in the city's growth. Meanwhile, the design-driven industries have been an important part of Bangkok’s economy and are keys to the development of a value-based economy.

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The creative energy of Bangkok’s diverse people, inspired by surrounding multicultural treasures, is the city’s greatest asset.  The blend of traditional and novel aesthetics form the fundamental ingredients of the city’s design evolution. Artisans, specialized suppliers, and creative production communities fill the city, with more than 300,000 creative jobs recorded in 2017.

 

Decades of regional trade and design exhibitions sustain the flow of new ideas, including the renowned ASA Architect Expo and product design fair STYLE Bangkok. Bangkok Design Week adds a new creative vibe, attracting audiences of all generations and acting as a collaborative platform promoting the importance of design.

 

As a hub of design education, Bangkok is home to eminent design professionals. Major design school research centers serve the public and private sectors in developing both policy and products. Rising urban architects and designers lead the city’s advance to an inclusive and sustainable future.

 

Bangkok’s people are adaptive, famed for using unconventional homespun approaches to handle problems.  Design is the tool to leverage local wisdom and make Bangkok a resilient city coping with the 21st century’s challenges.